An Introduction To The Different Types Of Tire Tread Patterns

by Crisanto Andrada Consultant

The right tire tread is very important in a car tire. When you visit a tire store it is important that you know what type of tire tread is suitable for your car’s tire. To do that you need to know the different types of tire tread patterns.

Elements Of Tire Tread Patterns

To know the elements we must understand what is tire tread pattern and why is it important. It is the only part that touches the ground when you are driving a car. This is why it is important to choose the right one as with the right tire tread your car will have a better grip and handle on the road. There are five basic elements of tire tread. They are:

Tread Blocks: These are the raised rubber segments which make contact with the road while driving.
Ribs: They are the raised section of the tread composed of tread blocks.
Grooves: Deep channels that run around the tire between the tread ribs.
Sips: Small slots that are molded into tread blocks to enhance all-season traction.
Cross slots: Channels molded into these elements in order to provide water evacuation.

Symmetric Tread Pattern

This tread pattern is found mostly in passenger car tires. As the name suggests the outer and inner sides of the tread are symmetric, which means they are mirror images of each other. Tires with a symmetric tread may use any type of rotation method. They are also known as multi-directional as this tire can be mounted and rotated in any direction without affecting performance.

Asymmetric Tread Pattern

This pattern is also mostly found in passenger tires. This pattern has two halves, the inner half and the outer half, where each has different channels and tread blocks. The inner half is responsible for water displacement. The outer half is responsible for high grip when cornering and driving on dry surfaces, and quieter interior noise. That is why it provides excellent handling, high curve stability, good grip in wet conditions. This type of tire has multiple rotation patterns. If you are going to drive in a place where it snows a lot or rains a lot, it is best to buy this type of tire from your nearest tire store.

Directional Tread Patterns

This tread pattern is designed in a way that it will move only in one direction. They are mostly used in high-performance tires or winter tires. The grooves of the tires are V-shaped, which helps move water or resist aquaplaning when driving at high speed. Another advantage is the extra traction. This gives the tire excellent handling on mud and snow. The tire rotation is a bit more complicated as once the tire is mounted, directional tires can only be rotated using a front-to-back and back-to-front pattern. So if it’s fitted on the wrong side, it will become useless to the car and you can end up in a car. This is why it is essential that you choose a very good reputed tire store. Also, you can make sure by checking the arrow on the sidewall indicating which direction they need to roll when mounted on the car.

So, next time you go to a tire store to buy new tires, make sure to pay extra attention to the tread pattern of the tire.